My recent '68 Resto-Mod

Cash Davidson · **Posted:** Thu Oct 30, 2014 1:06 pm

Well, OK its not a car, but I figured it’d be a good warm up project for a real the resto-mod I have planned. It has all the required elements:
Classic 60s model
Frame-off resto
Big engine swap
Big tires to put the power down
Pieces and parts from newer models

So we start with a 1968 JD110 Hydra-lift. (BTW, the Hydra-lift was a fairly rare option).

It’s powered by a single cylinder 8hp, Kohlar K181. It has a couple of issues. The K181 motor is pretty well used up. Very low compression, smokes, etc. and many parts are no longer available. The transaxle is another issue. Ever since I’ve owned it, it has refused to go into 1st gear. Engine running, engine stopped, clutch in, clutch out, rocking the tractor – it just would never go into 1st. I didn’t worry too much about it when I was mowing, but for tilling, I’d really like the granny gear.

Striped to the frame

Got the frame, dash and front axle cleaned, painted and reassembled. I rebuilt the steering column/box and replaced the ball joints on all the steering rods.

I progressed toward opening the case to find out why it won't go into first gear. I think I found good news - nothing broken. It appears someone has been in here before and reassembled it incorrectly.
When I shift it to 1st, it is looking for a gear at the location where the pen is pointing - obviously there is no gear there - just a spacer.

Bingo! I swapped the two gears so the big one is on the bottom and shazam, works perfectly.

Got the tranny put back together with new seals and bearings - and new brake pulley.

Next is the big engine swap. We'll be going with an 18hp, V-twin. :thumbsup:

The bigger motor means we need to move the hydraulic pump, fuel tank and battery. Here's the stock setup: the pump is on top of the motor, the 1gal gas tank is between the motor and the console and the battery is inside the console.

We get a 4gal under-seat tank and fender pan from an 80s JD212; modify our frame a bit, weld on some brackets and boom - fits perfect.

We modify the console, fabricate some brackets and boom - hydraulic pump has a new home.

The smaller gel battery sits in a new box behind the dash.

Trim the hood support to fit around the engine:

Test fit the hood and grille with new headlights:

Paint the engine and test fit some big-ass wheels:

Paint the fender pan and mount the remote oil filter:

Button it up, put wheels on it and take it out for a test drive!

Man that was fun! This thing makes me grin every time I ride it. :sing:

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Thu Oct 30, 2014 1:41 pm

Looks like a fun project Cash.

Why did you not re-paint ALL of it? That would bug me having two pretty wheels and two crappy ones.

Cash Davidson · **Posted:** Thu Oct 30, 2014 1:51 pm

Vincent Keene wrote:

Looks like a fun project Cash.

Why did you not re-paint ALL of it? That would bug me having two pretty wheels and two crappy ones.

Thanks! Good question. I have another set of larger wheels for the front and a set of ribbed front tires to replace the turf tires. Just gotta clean 'em up, paint 'em and mount the tires. Also the original fiberglass hood was broke in the front (see the first pic). I found the replacement hood after I had finished painting everything else - I need to paint that now.

But I can't get it looking too good or I won't wanna be draggin trees out of the woods with it.

Pete Guthrie · **Posted:** Thu Oct 30, 2014 5:33 pm

dude,4bt cummins ,twin pumps,big injectors,compound turbos,straight pipe into stack.nos

JasonWatts · **Posted:** Thu Oct 30, 2014 10:23 pm

for some reason I am surprised the tractor has a transverse mounted engine. Looks nice.

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Fri Oct 31, 2014 10:19 am

I like it! I am surprised you didn't get grief for not doing a small block crate motor swap.

Richard

Les Davis · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 2:04 pm **Posts:** 2059

Should definitely have put an LS7 in there.

Cash Davidson · **Posted:** Fri Oct 31, 2014 11:43 am

Like ^^

JasonWatts wrote:

for some reason I am surprised the tractor has a transverse mounted engine. Looks nice.

It has a side PTO that drives the rear tiller or the front chipper/shredder.

RobLupella · **Posted:** Fri Oct 31, 2014 12:03 pm

Needs some LED's. Is the new motor Sky-Active? :-)

Jordan Normark · **Posted:** Fri Oct 31, 2014 3:43 pm

Cool project, you should take it to a tractor pull

Reminds me of an old Wheel Horse I had with the pulley on the end of the crank. The belt drive off the pulley ran the mower deck. It had friction disc on the back side and a simple lever for engagement.

On another note, the transmission in your 110 looks a lot beefier than the Peerless I rebuilt in mine. I bought the tractor with a broken axle, rebuilt the transmission and in the first 50 feet of cutting grass, the engine flooded. My attempt at
un-flooding it caused it to catch on fire and burn up in my front yard...much to my neighbors amusement :cry:

Arthur McDonald · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 1:54 am **Posts:** 2052

Now that is really cool. I think you should have left the engine painted red. Then you could have entered it in the Wake Forest Christmas Parade on Dec 13

One more thing ... don't take it to work.
http://www.amctv.com/mad-men/videos/off ... ribly-awry

Cash Davidson · **Posted:** Mon Nov 03, 2014 1:08 pm

Arthur McDonald wrote:

One more thing ... don't take it to work.
http://www.amctv.com/mad-men/videos/off ... ribly-awry

Now that's a great safety tip! I'll make a note of it. :lol:

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